Next Meeting: Sunday, February 27, 2:00

We are doing some thing different for the next meeting.
A field trip! Location to be determined. Perhaps the Getty. Some place/show interesting to us and then some lunch after. Please keep your eye out for a good recommendation.
My studio visit will be next.

Recent Meeting, January 23, 2011

Our most recent meeting was at Zelda's house. Despite the sad news of Kate and Tom's departure from the group, we carried on with renewed resolve!
In a small bout of the 'glass possibly being half empty' (some culture shock and just having returned from 5 glorious weeks in Mexico may have had some influence on this), a part of me expected everyone to being jumping ship. But alas, no! It was fantastic to be together, talk and discuss our future.
Here's what was discussed:
Our Group Show
As the basic democratic policy of the group is "you snooze, you lose", those who participated in the dialogue discussed and came to a consensus for our first group show. Everyone who sent in or brought in ideas had an open forum, no judgement. We threw around all of the ideas and agreed that we wanted to have a theme that was open-ended, malleable and relevant to the work that we do.
Here it is: Short Stories
We are encouraging creating new work for this, one to three pieces. If the older work is pertinent, great. A little more, a little less, OK.
As many of us are work-horse, labor intensive types of creatures, we need some time.
Here's the structure:

• June - We'll have a State of the Union style update on where our pieces are. Step one. Get started thinking now, though. Start creating for this.
  
• We'll determine a realistic date for completion.
• We'll discuss gallery possibilities. We liked the idea of being able to take this show to a few venues. DIY spaces, Phantom galleries. We really want to present it in a fresh light and want to resist the comfort of a space that feels tired or "faculty show-ish".
• Since it is called Short Stories, we loved the idea of printing a booklet with our work, info and writing that would enhance the work. We were into all of the new printing possibilities for this. It also nice to have something to take away. We want a book.

Our Group and New Members
OK, so this is the nature of a group. People come and people go. But please don't go!
We are looking to add about three more interesting and viable people to the group.
Some thoughts:

• Serious artists who are truly committed to their art and creating and a career.
• Negativity, downers and super critics... not good candidates.
• Whoever joins is stepping into an already lovely group of people with a group show on the horizon.
• Ask around. Ask curators, gallery owners, other artists who may have friends, etc.
• Man power. A few good men would be nice. Looks count for more than 50 %. Or more. Just kidding, but more men would be great.
• We're not in a rush. But get the word out. Quality first.

Other notes from the last meeting:

• Zelda was excited the John Frame was coming to the Huntington Gardens/Museum. She said that could use your B of A card for free entry.
• Peggy wrote and said that she liked the idea of an annual group show called Salon LA 2011. I think you all received this e-mail with the details of her view. Interesting idea that we'll bring up at the next meeting.
• This weekend is the LA Art Show at Barker Hanger at the SM Airport. That might not be the exact name. I never remember the title, exactly.
• AND! Craig's show in Mexico was a GIANT success! Fantastico!

I truly appreciate all of you and treasure what I derive from the group. Thank you for making the effort every six weeks or so. If you can't make a meting every once in a while, don't stress out about it. We're just happy to have you be a voice in out circle.
Gracias y mucho amor...
Phoebe